Apparatus for filling containers or the like with fluent or flowable material



Jan. 27, 1970 G. NICLAS 3,491,804

G. APPARATUS FGR FILLING CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE WITH FLUENT OR FLOWABLEMATERIAL Filed July 31, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E0 L52 A i 2 '3 3? m2 0 o,0 0 0) 0 Q o o o o 0 o o o o o o o 37 3s 35 I02 o Jan. 27, 1970 G. G.APPARATUS FOR FILLING LIKE WITH FLUENT 0R F Filed July 31, 1967 Fig. 2

NICLAS CONTAINERS OR THE LOWABLE MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. A

Jan. 27, 1970 G. G. N-ICLAS APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS OR THE'LIKE WITH FLUENT 0R FLOWABLE MATERIAL Filed July 31. 1967. 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 27, 1970 as. NlCLA-S APPARATUS FOR F ILLINGCONTAINERS OR THE LIKE WITH FLUENT OR FLOWABLE MATERIAL Filed July 31.1967 4 Sheets$heet 4 United States Patent O 3,491,804 APPARATUS FORFILLING CONTAINERS OR THE LIKE WITH FLUENT OR FLOWABLE MATERIAL GiulioGiuseppe Niclas, Milan, Italy, assignor to Ejectoret SA., Geneva,Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed July 31, 1967, Ser. No.657,248 Claims priority, application Italy, Aug. 6, 1966, 18,301/ 66Int. Cl. B67c 3/02; B65b 1/04, 43/42 US. Cl. 141-125 17 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE Filling fiowable materials into containers or the likeby means of a dosing mechanism for filling a dosed material into suchcontainers. There is provided at least one apparatus for receiving acontainer to be filled. Each such receiving apparatus comprising groovedrail means for guiding at least one carriage member which isdisplaceable in the lengthwise direction of said grooved rail means.Further, a head member is arranged at the region of the outer end of thegrooved rail means for insertably receiving the container which is to befilled, the carriage member being displaceable towards such head member.Additionally, a filling funnel is provided for the head member, and asupport member is provided at the carriage member for supporting atleast a portion of the container. Also, means are provided fortransporting the receiving apparatus in a direction approximatelytransverse to the direction of displacement of the carriage member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvedapparatus for filling fluent or molten material into containers or thelike.

The manufacture and preparation of different pharmaceuticals orcosmetics, for instance lipsticks, deodorant sticks, as well as alsosuppositories, require the introduction of a previously molten substanceinto a container or a mold where such previously flowable or molten masshardens. However, the introduction of the fluent or molten material intothe containers or molds must occur as quickly and completely as possiblein order to prevent the entry of dirt particles. Furthermore, thesubsequent packaging of the products must proceed as much as possiblewithout any further handling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a'primary object of thepresent invention to provide an improved apparatus which is capable ofreliably and elfectively fulfilling the previously mentionedrequirements.

A further object of this invention relates to an improved apparatus forfilling flowable material into containers or the like in a highlyeconomical, elfective and sanitary manner, and further, wherein it ispossible to carry out the loading of the apparatus with empty containersor molds, the filling of the containers as well as the removal of theproducts in a manner lending itself to mass production by assembly linetechniques while employing machines which are as fully automated aspossible.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates toan improved apparatus for filling fiowable materials into containers orthe like in an extremely sanitary, efficient and reliable manner,thereby increasing production while reducing manufacturing costs.

Generally speaking, the apparatus for filling flowable materials intocontainers or the like is of the type having a dosing mechanism equippedwith at least one nozzle for filling a dosed material into thecontainers, means for removing the filled containers and for deliveringsuch for further processing, and means for the stepwise transport of thecontainers from a location for the introduction of the containers intothe apparatus to said dosing mechanism and from the latter location to aremoval station.

Now, in order to fulfill the foregoing objects as well as others whichwill become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, there isprovided at least one apparatus for receiving a container to be filledwhich cooperates with the stepwise transport means. Each such receivingapparatus advantageously comprises grooved rail means for guiding atleast one carriage member which is displaceable in the lengthwisedirection of such grooved rail means. The grooved rail means possessesan outer end at the region of which there is arranged a head member forinserta-bly receiving the container to be filled, with the carriagemember being displaceable towards said head member. Additionally, thehead member is provided with a filling funnel, and a support member isprovided at the carriage member for supporting at least a portion of thecontainer. Further, means are provided for transporting the receivingapparatus in a direction approximately transverse to the direction ofdisplacement of the carriage member.

Owing to these features it is now possible to arrange next to oneanother an entire row of such receiving apparatuses for the reception ofthe containers which are to be filled and to cause such receivingapparatuses to incre- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The inventionwill be better understood, and objects other than those set forth above,will become apparent, when consideration is given to the followingdetailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to theannexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic in part front and in part perspective view of apreferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus for filling containersor the like with flowable or molten material;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic in part end and in part perspective view of theapparatus depicted in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown inFIGURE 1, taken along the line III-III thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus depicted in FIGURE3, taken along the line IV-IV thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary front view, partially in section, of thearrangement shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form ofinventive apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the apparatusdepicted in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement depicted in FIGURE7, taken along the line VIIIVIII thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Directing attention now toFIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown therein an exemplaryembodiment of inventive apparatus for filling fluent or molten materialinto containers or the like as will be more fully explained hereinafter.This apparatus 10 embodies a machine frame 11 provided with a suitable,schematically illustrated drive means D for imparting the desiredtransport motion to a stepwise or incrementally revolving conveyor ortransport band 12 or the like. Further, a number of inventiveapparatuses 13 are arranged at the stepwise moving transport band 12,and each such apparatus 13 serves to receive a respective one of thecontainers which is to be filled. During their stepwise feed ortransport motion in the direction of the arrow 14, these receivingapparatuses 13 pass through a nonillustrated station or location servingfor the preferably automatic infeed or introduction of the containers, afurther station having a dosing mechanism 15 with at least one nozzlemember 16 for introducing the dosed material into the containers, andpossibly a still further non-illustrated station serving for theaccelerated cool ing of the filled material within the containers, andfinally, a further station for removal of the filled containers anddelivery thereof by means of a chute 17 (FIGURE 2) for further handlingor processing.

Since the drive means for the stepwise-transport of the conveyor band,the means for the insertion and removal of the containers, as well asthe means for dosing of the material, do not form part of the subjectmatter of the present invention, and since such means are well known tothose skilled in the art, no further description thereof is believednecessary, and these various components will only be described andreferred to herein to the extent necessary to fully comprehend theinventive subject matter. Furthermore, insofar as the dosing mechanism15 is concerned, such may be of the type described in my US. Patent No.3,313,085, granted Apr. 11, 1967, and entitled Apparatus for the Dosingand Filling of Molten Masses for the Production of Cosmetic Articles andthe Like.

Continuing, it is to be understood that the construction of theapparatuses 13 for the reception of the containers which are to befilled and the arrangement of these apparatuses 13 at the machine orapparatus 10 will be now described in greater detail, with particularreference being made to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. Thus, by inspecting thesefigures, it will be recognized that each receiving apparatus 13incorporates a grooved rail means 31 having two internal grooves 32extending in the longitudinal or lengthwise direction of the rail means31. These internal grooves 32 serve as the lengthwise displaceable guidemeans for a first carriage or sled member 33 and a second carriagemember 34 (FIG- URE 3). Both carriage members 33 and 34 are arrangedbehind one another. Further, it will be seen that the grooved rail means31 has a free or outer end 31a, at the region of which there issupported a head member 35 having a frontal opening 36 for theinsertable reception of a mold portion 100 (FIGURE 3).

This mold portion 100 can be the protective sleeve which can be laterremoved from the finished product, for instance a cosmetic stick. Thismold half 100 is then completed by a cup member 101 which is insertedfrom the opposite side in the opening or aperture 36 in the head member35. In so doing, the cup member 101 is already disposed at the sleeve orcartridge 102 of the finished product, so that after the pouring andremoval operations only the cup member 101 together with the cosmeticmass or paste and the protective sleeve 100 need be retracted in thesleeve or cartridge 102 equipped with the standard feed or advancingmeans, as such is known in sticks of this type, such as lipsticks.Although in this instance each container consists of the components orportions 100, 101 and 102, it should be apparent that containers ofother constructions could also be equally well employed, and further,that the term container as employed herein is used in its broader sense,and therefore, should not be construed as limited to the specific typeof receiver or container shown and described herein which is purely fordescriptive purposes.

Further, in order to fill the cosmetic mass in the mold embodying thesleeve member and the cup member 101, which mold is inserted in the headmember 35, the latter is additionally provided at the top region with afilling funnel 37 or the like. This filling funnel 37 obviouslycommunicates with the insert opening 36 extending transverse to theaforementioned filling funnel 37. In order to fill each container100-102 the head member 35, together with its filling funnel 37, isplaced beneath the nozzle member 16 of the dosing mechanism 15 (FIGURE2). Thereafter, the medium or material flowing into the filling funnel37 next flows into the mold assembly 100, 101 in the direction of thearrows depicted in FIGURE 3, whereby the sleeve member 100 and the cupmember 101 are slightly spaced from one another in order to form aninflow channel 38, as shown.

A support or holder member 39 is mounted upon the carriage member 33 inorder to provide the longitudinally displaceable supporting device forthe sleeve member 102 provided with the cup member 101. Furthermore, thecarriage member 34 serves to bring about the longitudinal displacementof the carriage member 33 as a function of the stepwise movement of thereceiving apparatus 13 in a direction substantially transverse to thelongitudinal extent of the aforementioned receiving apparatuses 13. Itwill be noticed that this carriage member 34 carries an attachmentmember 40 at the end thereof confronting the other carriage member 33.This attachment member 40 serves to house a plunger 41 or the liketending to elastically or resiliently urge the sleeve or cartridgemember 102 against the head member 35 during the filling operation. Inso doing, this plunger member 41 is subjected to the action of a springmember 42 tending to press the plunger member 41 towards the right, intothe position depicted in FIG- URE 3. Furthermore, at the portion 40a ofthe attachment member 40 which overlaps the carriage member 33 there isprovided a longitudinal groove 43 into which engages a pin member 44depending from the carriage member 33, as shown.

As should be readily evident by inspecting FIGURE 3, during displacementof the carriage member 34 in the depicted position towards the right,the carriage member 33 will likewise be displaced towards the right dueto impact of both of the neighboring confronting carriage ends 33a, 34a.Such displacement of the carriage member 33 takes place until theplunger member 41 presses against the end 10211 of the sleeve member 102with the pressure of the spring member 42, and thus, pushes this sleevemember 102 against the wall 35a of the head member 35. On the otherhand, if this carriage member 34 is displaced towards the left, theninitially the spring member 42 is relaxed and after impact of the pinmember 44 at the right wall or boundary surface 43a of the groove 43 thecarriage member 33 is entrained towards the left. In so doing, the pathof displacement of the carriage member 33 is of such length that thematerial which has solidified in the cup member 101 and the protectivesleeve member 100 and, if desired, together with this protective sleevemember 100, is retracted out of the head member 35. The retraction ofthe protective sleeve member 100 along with the retraction of the cupmember 101 occurs because the material which has solidified in the cupmember 101 and protective sleeve member 100 is in one piece and infrictional engagement with the internal surface of the protective sleevemember 100 and cup member 101. Consequently, the finished product orarticle can easily be lifted away from the support member or carrier 39,as such will be more fully described hereinafter.

At the rear or other end 34b of the carriage member 34 there is provideda control roller 50 for displacing the carriage member 34 and thereforealso the carriage member 33 as a function of the treatment stepsundertaken at the stepwise advanced receiving apparatus 13. Th s controlroller 50 engages a guide track formed by a pair of spaced cam-likemembers 51 and 52 provided at the machine frame 11 along the path oftravel of the individual receiving apparatuses 13. FIGURE 3 shows, insection, the control roller 50 supported on a bearing member with thecontrol roller in engagement with the walls of a track formed by spacedcam-like members 51, 52. FIGURE 1 shows, schematically, at its extremeleft the arrangement for guiding the rollers 50 and actuating thereceiving apparatuses 13 thereby.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the recelving apparatuses 13 areclosely arranged or assembled to provide a transport or conveyor band12, the previously considered movement of the carriage members 33, 34 beng substantially transverse to the rotary or revolving mot on of thisconveyor band 12. The connectionand guide means at the conveyor band 12are here shown to comprise traveling roller members 60 and 61 WhlCh IOllupon a roller track means 11a provided at the machine frame 11 (FIGURES3 and 5 More precisely, each receiving apparatus 13 is equipped with aroller member 60 and a roller member 61 which are secured by thesupports 60a and 61a, respectively, at the underside of the associatedgrooved rail means 31. Both of these traveling roller members 60 and 61bear against guide rails 60b and 6112, respectively, which preventlifting of the receiving apparatus from the roller track means 11a.

FIGURE 5 shows in greater detail how the individual receivingapparatuses 13 are interconnected with one another by web members 62.These web members 62 are pivotably connected at their opposite ends tothe pivot.

bolts 60c and 610 of the neighboring tandemly arranged traveling rollermembers 60 and 61 respectively, to thereby form the chain links of anendless chain member This chain member C together with the individualreceiving apparatuses 13 carried thereby form the previously describedconveyor or transport band unit 12 of FIGURE 1. Further, as should bereadily apparent, suitable nonillustrated stepwise driven deflecting orturning gears are provided at the turning locations of this conveyor ortransport band 12 at the sides of the machine, these defiecting gearsengaging with the web members or chain links 62 and bring about the feedmotion of the transport band 12 having the receiving apparatuses 13.

It has been found in practice that in order to insure for a faultlessfilling of the containers 100, 101 the apparatus should possess aninclination to the head member 35 of about 25 to 50 which respect to thehorizontal, as such will be seen by referring to FIGURE 2. In so doing,and in order to prevent a drooping or throughhang of the transport band12, a guide 63 is provided at the machine frame 11 and against whicheach receiving apparatus bears by means of a guide roller 64 secured tothe grooved rail means 31, as shown.

Continuing, it should be apparent that after filling the containers 100,101 and after the solidification of the cosmetic mass or the like, asurplus or excess quantity of such cosmetic mass likewise solidifies inthe filling funnel 37 of each receiving apparatus 13. This surplus inthe filling funnel 37 must obviously be removed prior to pouring orfilling a new container 100, 101. To this end, FIGURE 5 shows that ascraper or doctor blade 70 is provided which, during predetermined timeintervals, scrapes such surplus material out of the associated funnel 37or the like. Accordingly, this scraper or doctor blade 70 is mounted tobe rotatable about a shaft 71 supported at the machine frame 11.Further, such scraper 70 is provided with a feeler member 72 cooperatingwith an entrainment member 73, illustrated in FIGURE 3 at the headmember 35 of each receiving apparatus 13 in such a manner that, duringeach passage of a receiving apparatus 13 beneath the scraper 70 thelatter is rocked against the action of a non-illustrated spring memberowing to the entrainment motion between the feeler member 72 (FIGURE 5)and the entrainment member 73 (FIG- URE 3), thereby scraping out theassociated funnel member 37.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 depict a further embodiment of apparatus for fillingfluent or fiowable material into containers or the like. As evident byinspecting FIGURE 6, the previously considered receiving apparatuses 13'are likewise inclined at an inclination upon a circular table 75 whichmay have the configuration of a cone or a frustum of a cone. Thecircular table 75 is rotatable in stepwise fashion about a shaft 76 bymeans of a suitable indexing or stepping mechanism 77 which cooperateswith cams 78 at the underside of this circular table 75, as such isreadily known in the art. Furthermore, non-illustrated loading means forthe containers, filling means, cooling means, and removal means for thefinished products, are arranged in spaced or distributed fashion at thecircular table 75 in such a manner that each receiving apparatus 13during its revolving motion must pass through the aforementionedstations performing the previously considered individual operations.

In contrast to the previously considered embodiment of transportapparatus, here as shown in FIGURE 7 the individual receivingapparatuses 13' together with the grooved rail means 31 are rigidly orfixedly mounted to a base plate 75a of the circular table 75.Futhermore, as best shown in FIGURE 6 the disposition of these receivingapparatuses 13' upon the base plate 75a is such as to provide asubstantially ring-shaped arrangement. Still, also in this embodimentthe displacement of the carriage members 33' and 34' likewise takesplace by means of spaced cam-like members 51' and 52 which arestationarily arranged at the machine frame or table 11. However, incontrast to the first described embodiment, in this embodiment the headmember for receiving the containers 100, 101 is not arranged at thecarriage member 33', rather at the outer end or rim of the table supportplate 75a, so that the individual head members 90 preferably form aclosed ring 90a (FIGURE 6). The infeed or filling funnel of each ofthese head members 90 is formed by a vertically extending groove 93(FIGURES 7 and 8) in which there is guided a scraper or doctor blade 91.This scraper 91 serves to remove the surplus cosmetic material or thelike from the filling funnel 93 after solidification and removal of thefinished product. To this end, the illustrated scraper 91 is displacedupwardly. A slot 94 provided at the scraper 91 serves to limit themotion of such scraper towards the top and bottom, this slot 94cooperating with a limit stop screw member 95 or equivalent structure.As should be further evident by referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, thescraper 91, when in its lower terminal or extreme position, limits thefilling funnel 93, so that the upper front end 97 thereof forms thefloor or bottom of such filling funnel 93. A slide roller 92 is providedat the lower free end of the scraper or doctor blade 91 in order tobring about displacement of the scraper 91 for removal of the surplusmaterial as a function of the revolving motion of the table 75. Thisroller 92 cooperates with an inclined surface 96 provided at the machineframe 11'. Suitable non-illustrated spring means or a suitable furthernon-illustrated inclined surface can be provided for returning thescraper member 91 into the depicted filling position.

It is also here pointed out that it would be readily possible to providethe circular table 75 with receiving apparatuses 13 wherein the headmember is constructed like the head member 35 of the embodiment ofFIGURE 3, and further, it would also be possible to provide a headmember 90 similar to that of FIGURES 7 and 8 at the apparatus having therevolving transport or conveyor band 12.

Both of the previously described machines operate in the followingmanner:

Initially, the transport or conveyor band 12 (FIGURE 1) or the circulartable 75 (FIGURE 6) are placed into rotation. Then, the receivingapparatuses 13 or 13 with their control rollers 50 or 50 at the carriagemembers 34 or 34' come into the operating zone of the guide tracks bothof the spaced cam-like members 51 or 51 and 52 or 52' during thestepwise traveling motion of the conveyor band 12 or circular table 75in the direction of the arrow 14. As a result, the carriage members 33or 33' and 34 or 34' are retracted from the head member 35 or 90respectively. This position of the carriage members 33 or 33, 34 or 34'is maintained, by appropriate design of the length of the spacedcam-like members 51 or 51' and 52 or 52, for such time until certainpredetermined operations can be carried out during this portion of therevolving movement of the apparatuses 13 or 13.

More precisely, now initially, and advantageously in an automaticfashion, the container components or sleeves 100 or 100' are placed intothe relevant head members 35 or 90 respectively, and the cup member 101or 101 together with the cartridge or sleeve 102 or 102 is placed uponthe associated support member 39 or 39. At the end of the previouslydescribed operating phase which is determined by the guide track formedby spaced cam-like members 51 or 51' and 52 and 52, and which can beconveniently considered as the loadingand unloading phase, there occursan advancement of the carriage members 33 or 33' and 34 or 34' towardsthe corresponding head member 35 or 90 respectively, due to appropriatede sign or configuration of the control cams 51 or 51 and 52 or 52'. Inso doing, the carriage member 34 or 34' initially presses the carriagemember 33 or 33' in the direction of the associated head member 35 or90, until the plunger member 41 or 41 comes to bear against theassociated cartridge or sleeve 102 or 102. During further displacementof the carriage member 34 or 34 the plunger member 41 or 41 now pressesby means of the sleeve 102 the free end of the cup member 101 or 101'into the opening 36, 36' of the head member 35 or 90, until the frontend or rim of the sleeve member 102 or 102 bears against the wall 35a or90a of the head member 35 or 90 respectively, as shown in FIGURES 3 and7. A small further displacement of the carriage member 34 or 34 causesthe plunger member 41 or 41 to come under the action of the springmember 42 or 42, bringing about the required contact pressure of thesleeve 102 or 102 against the head member 35 or 90. This describedposition can be conveniently designated the filling-position and ismaintained during the revolving motion of the receiving apparatuses 13or 13' until the latter again arrive at the loadingand unloading zone.This filling-position is maintained by contact of the control rollers 50or 50' at the cam or track 51 or 51.

Now, during their further movement through the prescribed path of travelthe head members 35 or 90 arrive beneath the nozzle 16 of the fillingmechanism or device 15, only conveniently shown in FIGURE 2, so thatthere occurs filling of the containers 100 or 100', 101 or 101'.Thereafter, the receiving apparatuses 13 or 13' with the filledcontainers 100 or 100', 101 or 101 advantageously pass through asuitable, non-illustrated cooling device which acceleratessolidification or hardening of the filled material. Thereafter, thereceiving apparatuses 13 or 13 once again arrive at the loadingandunloading zone.

Upon arrival of the relevant apparatus 13 in such zone the carriagemember 34 or 34' is again retracted due to the action of the guide trackupon the guide roller 50 of the carriage member 34 or 34. As a result,and as already explained, initially the plunger member 41 or 41'releases the cartridge or sleeve 102 or 102' and thereafter, thecarriage member 33 or 33' is also retracted. Consequently, the finishedproduct consisting of the sleeve 102 or 102, the cup member 101 or 101',the protective sleeve 100 or 100' and the material between the cup 101or 101' and protective sleeve 100 or 100' which has hardened in themeantime, is retracted out of the associated head member 35 or 90. Inthis regard, means can be provided which initially fixedly retain thefinished article or product upon the support member 39 or 39' and meanswhich assist the displacement of the article out of the head member 35or by acting from the outside upon the protective sleeve or 100'.Surplus material in the filling channel 38 between the protective sleeve100 or 100' and the cup member 101 or 101 can be scraped out of thehollow wall of the associated head member 35 or 90.

Naturally, it would also be possible to fixedly retain the protectivesleeve 100 at the head member 35 or 90, and then to remove thesolidified material out of this sleeve 100 or 100'.

Within the loadingand unloading zone the finished article or product isnow removed from the associated support member 39 or 39 and istransported away from the machine. Further, the relevant filling funnel37 or 93 is cleaned by actuating the associated scraper 70' or 91respectively, and the receiving apparatus 13 or 13' is once again loadedin the previously described manner so as to be ready to produce afurther finished product or article.

Having now had an opportunity to fully consider the various embodimentsof inventive apparatus described and shown herein, it should be obviousthat certain features of one embodiment could be readily applied to theother embodiment insofar as such would not interfere with the explainedfunction and structural characteristics of such other embodiment. Thus,while there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for filling flowable materials into containers, theimprovement comprising:

(a) at least one apparatus for receiving a container to be filled thatis formed of longitudinally spaced container sections, each receivingapparatus comprising:

(1) grooved rail means for guiding at least one carriage member which isdisplaceable in the lengthwise direction of said grooved rail means;

(2) a first carriage member displaceably mounted in and for movementalong said grooved rail means, said grooved rail means having an outerend;

(3) a head member arranged at the region of said outer end of saidgrooved rail means for insertably receiving therein, in longitudinalspaced relation, the two container sections to be filled, said firstcarriage member being displaceable toward said head member;

(4) a filling funnel provided for said head member having an outletopening, said container sections being positionable in said head memberwith the space therebetween in communication with said funnel outletopening;

(5) a support member mounted on said first carriage member forlongitudinally supporting thereon a sleeve member for surrounding saidcontainer sections;

(b) means for transporting said receiving apparatus in a directionapproximately transverse to the direction of displacement of saidcarriage member;

(c). means for displacing said first carriage member.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1, further including a secondcarriage member guided together with said first carriage member at saidgrooved rail means, means for operably interconnecting said two carriagemembers with one another, said displacing means for said first carriagemember being provided at said second carriage member and serving todisplace both of said carriage members.

3. The improvement defined in claim 2, wherein both of said carriagemembers are displaceable into one extreme position defining a fillingposition, said second carriage member further including means forresiliently urging the container supported at said support member ofsaid first carriage member against the inner front face of said headmember, said resilient urging means being effective when said carriagemembers are disposed in said one extreme position.

4. The improvement defined in claim 3, said resilient urging meansincorporating a bearing housing provided at said second carriage member,a displaceable plunger movably mounted at said bearing housing formovement in the direction of travel of said second carriage member, andspring means against the action of which said plunger is displaceable.

5. The improvement defined in claim 2, wherein said means for displacingsaid carriage members include a guide roller mounted at said secondcarriage member, track means with which cooperates said guide roller.

6. The improvement defined in claim 2, wherein said means for operablyinterconnecting said two carriage members with one another comprises aguide groove provided at one of said carriage members, a pin provided atthe other of said carriage members, said pin engaging with play in saidguide groove in the direction of displacement of both of said carriagemembers.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6, wherein said guide groove isprovided at said second carriage member, said pin being provided at saidfirst carriage member.

8. The improvement defined in claim 1, wherein there are provided aplurality of said receiving apparatuses, web means for interconnectingsaid plurality of receiving apparatuses with one another to form anendless conveyor chain capable of stepwise travel in an endless path oftravel, said web means providing the chain links of said endlessconveyor chain.

9. The improvement defined in claim 8, wherein each receiving apparatusis equipped with travelling roller means at the underside of theassociated grooved rail means, roller track means upon which bear saidtraveling roller means.

10. The improvement defined in claim 9, wherein said roller track meansinclined.

11. The improvement defined in claim 1, wherein said head member bearsagainst said grooved rail means.

12. The improvement defined in claim 1, further including asubstantially circular table, and wherein there is further provided aplurality of said receiving apparatuses each equipped with an associatedgrooved rail means, said grooved rail means extending radially and beingfixedly mounted in substantially ring-shaped fashion upon the surface ofsaid circular table.

13. The improvement defined in claim 12, wherein said circular tablesubstantially possesses the configuration of at least a frustum of acone.

14. The improvement defined in claim 12, wherein said head member bearsagainst the edge of said circular table.

15. The improvement defined in claim 1, further including means forremoving surplus filled material from said filling funnel of said headmember.

16. The improvement defined in claim 15, wherein said removing means forsurplus filled material comprises a scraper member mounted to bepivotably movable into said filling funnel of the associated headmember.

17. The improvement defined in claim 15, wherein said removing means forsurplus filled material comprises a slide member mounted to penetratesaid filling tunnel of the associated head member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 772,195 10/1904 Vogel 141-151 X1,949,536 3/1934 Ferguson 141151X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary ExaminerEDWARD J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

